REPORT OF NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1923. 99 



These models are proving of extreme educational value, particularly 

 to students of mechanics, so much so that work in this direction will 

 be continued in the future as far as exhibition space will permit. 

 In this latter connection, it has been found necessary to use extreme 

 caution in the acquisition of specimens, so much so that the divisions 

 are finding it necessary in many instances to be content with the 

 acquisition of photographs as over against models or original speci- 

 mens. During the year just closed there were received 270 photo- 

 graphs, particularly of locomotives and aircraft. 



There was added to the collection of watercraft but one specimen, 

 namely a model of a Brazilian catamaran, called " chingada." It is 

 a valuable addition to the collection in that it possesses quite distinc- 

 tive features. The model was received as the gift of Robert B. 

 Johnston, Collingswood, N. J. 



WORK OF PRESEEVING AND INSTALLING COLLECTION PRESENT CONDITION OF COLLECTIONS. 



No expeditions of any great importance were made during the 

 year. In connection with the construction of a model visualizing the 

 land pebble phosphate mining industry, Paul M. Frank, assistant 

 curator, spent a week at Bartow, Fla., studying the mining and other 

 technological operations, as conducted by the Morris Fertilizer Com- 

 pan3^ With this first-hand information it is expected that a more 

 realistic reproduction of this important industry can be effected. 



Taken as a whole, the collections are in fairly good condition, 

 considering the fact that during the year the divisions lost through 

 resignations the services of the assistant curator and those of a 

 skilled preparator. At best the divisions are undermanned for the 

 work of preserving and maintaining the collections when it is under- 

 stood that they include many working models of intricate design; 

 delicate models of mechanical apparatus, the majority of which are 

 made of wood and of such an age that they require constant care to 

 prevent them from falling to pieces ; and a large collection of water- 

 craft models, the majority of which are thirty years old or more and 

 in which such things as sails and riggings must constantly be re- 

 placed because of deterioration of the original materials. On ac- 

 count of the aforementioned resignations the only experienced pre- 

 parator left in the divisions was assigned exclusively to the care of 

 the working models and a new inexperienced preparator had to be 

 secured to assist in the maintenance of the balance of the collections. 

 While it may be said that even with these handicaps the collections 

 are in fairly good condition, there does not seem to be much hope 

 that the collections can be put or kept in the best of condition until 

 the Museum can offer salaries large enough to hold employees of 

 the preparator grade. The work of the divisions is closely connected 

 with the industrial world and the staff quite naturally is made up 

 of individuals whose qualifications are similar to those required in 



